News & Press Releases 2005

DENVER - National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) President and Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter announced that Colorado Attorney General John Suthers has been selected to Co-Chair the NAAG Criminal Law Committee.

“It is an honor to be selected Co-Chair of the NAAG Criminal Law Committee,” said Attorney General Suthers. “I hope to use my experience in the Colorado criminal justice arena to help other states better protect their citizens. I look forward to working together with my colleagues in furthering our criminal enforcement efforts.”

DENVER - Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today the indictment of Verna Ray Brown, 49, and Rodney Glenn Fessenden, 39, both of Greeley, and Nicole Ray Brown, 22, of Denver, operators of Full Spectrum Staffing and its predecessors, for violations of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, forgery, influencing a public official, and other crimes.

DENVER – Colorado Attorney General Suthers and the Secretary of State’s Office advise citizens to beware of giving to fraudulent organizations that may claim to help citizens who have suffered loss from Hurricane Katrina.

DENVER – Attorney General John Suthers announced that his office has issued annual reports on sub-prime lending activity in Colorado for 2004. The Attorney General’s Office enforces the Colorado Uniform Consumer Credit Code – Colorado’s consumer lending law. Sub-prime lenders that make or take assignment of consumer loans with an annual percentage rate (APR) of 12% or more must be licensed under the Uniform Consumer Credit Code (UCCC) and report their lending activity on an annual basis. Individual lender reports are compiled into composite reports, based on type of loans

DENVER – Attorney General John Suthers today announced an agreement with 7-Eleven, Inc. requiring the nation’s largest seller of tobacco products to implement new procedures to prevent sales to minors at its 229 Colorado stores and 5,702 outlets in 40 other states and Washington, D.C.

"Every day more than 2,000 minors pick up a cigarette for the first time," said Attorney General Suthers. "By entering into this agreement, 7-Eleven demonstrates their commitment to reducing the number of children exposed to cigarettes and other tobacco products."

DENVER – Attorney General John Suthers and Securities Commissioner Fred Joseph announced today the arrest of Rico Vecchiarelli following his indictment on July 22, 2005, by the State Grand Jury and the subsequent issuance of an arrest warrant on the same date by the Denver District Court.

DENVER – Attorney General John Suthers today convened the first meeting of the Mortgage and Foreclosure Fraud Task Force designed to prevent Colorado consumers from falling victim to what Suthers calls a growing wave of consumer fraud.

“Too many Coloradans are losing their primary financial asset because of the growing industry of mortgage and foreclosure scams,” said Suthers. “This Task Force will help those on the front lines deter these scams and assist the public with complaints.”

DENVER – Attorney General John Suthers today announced a settlement between the Colorado Board of Medical Examiners and Denise Crute, M.D., a Pueblo neurosurgeon accused of violating the Colorado Medical Practice Act. The settlement follows the Attorney General’s filing of a 48-page formal complaint alleging Dr. Crute’s substandard care of 17 patients.Attorney General John Suthers today announced a settlement between the Colorado Board of Medical Examiners and Denise Crute, M.D., a Pueblo neurosurgeon accused of violating the Colorado Medical Practice Act.